Sabrina Carpenter released her sixth studio album, “Short n’ Sweet,” on Aug. 23. The long-anticipated, 12-song record captivated fans and secured Carpenter’s title as a mainstream pop star. With a mix of karaoke songs and slow ballads, the “Nonsense” singer shared her experience of a messy breakup and included songs describing her current relationship.
The past few months have been what Vogue calls the “Summer of Sabrina Carpenter,” featuring two of her record-breaking singles, “Espresso” and “Please Please Please,” alongside the announcement of her “Short n’ Sweet” world tour. The undeniable peak of her career began at Coachella weekend, where “Espresso” was performed live for the first time and topped the charts. The addictive dance beat, playful lyrics and beach-themed music video gave listeners a first taste of summer and a front-row seat to the success that would follow.
Understanding the “who” of “Short n’ Sweet” is essential to fully appreciate the album’s complexity. It’s no secret that dating rumors circulated about Sabrina Carpenter and Shawn Mendes after the two were photographed together in February 2023, and Carpenter seems to reference this relationship in her album. Also heavily featured is Carpenter’s now-confirmed relationship with Irish actor Barry Keoghan, which is referenced in songs such as “Bed Chem” and “Juno.”
Those two tracks, both trending on TikTok, are seductive and risqué, with lyrics and themes that prove Carpenter has outgrown her Disney days; for instance, “Juno” refers to the 2007 film about an accidental pregnancy. Carpenter later boldly confirmed to Spotify, “That is the Juno I’m referring to… it’s the pregnant one.”
The first track of the album “Taste” jumps right into the convoluted details of Carpenter and Mendes’s relationship. Snarky lyrics, such as “every time you breathe his air / just know I was already there,” seem to directly address Mendes’s future partners as a harsh reminder that Carpenter was once linked to him. The fifth track “Coincidence” has a similar effect, mocking Mendes’s companions for “trying to turn the past into the present tense” and Mendes for “[losing] all [his] common sense”.
“Sharpest Tool” and “Dumb & Poetic” share a theme that their titles pointedly reflect: calling the subject an idiot. Carpenter wastes no time in this endeavor, with the opening line of “Sharpest Tool” being, “I know you’re not the sharpest tool in the shed.” It quickly becomes clear that the subject hurt Carpenter by not remaining faithful, which is demonstrated in lyrics like “running so fast from the hearts that you’re breaking” and “we were going right, then you took a left.” Part of the genius of “Sharpest Tool” is showcased in the chorus, with every new line starting with the last word of the line preceding it. Fans believe Carpenter made this choice to make the song easy to follow for her ex, making even more clear he is not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Now a pop culture powerhouse, Carpenter has mastered selling herself as an artist. She’s learned to use a surge in pop singers to her advantage, and her aesthetic and playfulness attract a loyal fanbase of young women. Developing skills such as leaving clues in writing, creating artistic music videos and maintaining an interesting and unique personality are crucial to a successful music career, and Carpenter’s playful lyricism has it covered. The “Short n’ Sweet” album accurately describes the female experience and the trials and tribulations of dating through a classic pop sound and quick wit, two qualities that will soon be synonymous with the name Sabrina Carpenter.
“Short n’ Sweet” is available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music.
